Car-coupling



GAR COUPLING.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

FHHIIHHIIIIHHI S. H. RATHBURN.

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SERENO II. RATHBURN, OF STANBERRY, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,558, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed July 22,1890. Serial No. 359,513. (No model.)

To all whonz it may concern:

Be it known that I, SERENO H. RATHBURN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stanberry, in the county of Gentry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings, the object being to provide a cheap, simple, reliable, and effective device for the purpose, in which the cars may be coupled and uncoupled either from the sides or top without going between them, thus obviating liability of accidents.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coupling as it appears in use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the draw-heads, showing one of the hooks uncoupled. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the draw-heads.

In the said drawings,the reference-numerals 1 1 designate two cars, to which are secured the draw-heads 2. These draw-heads are exact duplicates of each other, so that a description of one will suffice for both. Each consists of a rectangularly-shaped head having two apertures 4, one of which has mounted therein the hook 5. This hook consists of a shank 6, having its front end bent downward, forming an arm 7, which engages With the aperture 4. in the opposite drawhead when the cars are coupled. The rear end of the shank terminates in a downwardly-depending plate 8, having a recess 9, and an upwardly-projecting arm 10. It is also provided on its under side with a stop or lug 12. The plate 8 is provided with two lugs or journals 13, which rest upon the top of the draw-head and are confined thereto by means of the short lugs 14, secured to the draw'head and bent over upon said journals.

the rear walls of the draw-head, and when uncoupled the stop 12 limits the upward movement of the hook. Upon its upper side the hook is provided with a bar 16, having bent ends secured to the hook, and it is connected with a link of the operating-chain 18. This chain at its other end is connected with a drum 19, secured to a transverse rod or bar 20, pivoted to the end of the car. The ends of this rod are bent angularly and provided with weights 21, and intermediate of said ends the rod is provided with two cranks 22 and 23 at right angles to each other and provided with operating-bars 21L, having handles 25.

The operation is as follows: As the cars approach each other the hooks are raised by turning the bars or rods 20, which wind the chain 18 upon the drums 19. This can be accomplished from the side of the car by elevating the weighted ends; or it may be elfected from the top by depressing one of the bars 24: and elevating the other, which by means of the angnlarly-arranged cranks rotates the rod 20. When the cars come together, the hooks are allowed to fall and their hooked ends engage with the openings in the opposite draw-head.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, in a car-coupler, of the drawheads having two openings or apertures therein, the hooks loosely journaled in said draw-heads, the operating-bar connected with said hooks, having weighted angular ends and provided with cranks at right angles to each other, having operating-bars, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the draw-heads having two openings or apertures 3 and at, the recessed stops 15, and bent lugs 14, of the hook consisting of a shank having arm 7, plate 8, recess 9, engaging with the rear wall of the draw-head, lug 12, journals 13, working in the recessed stops 15, and the bar 16, connected with an operating-chain, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the draw-head hav- 6, arm 7, journals 13, plate 8, having recess 9 ing two openings or apertures 3 4, the reand stop 12, and the bar 16, substantially as cessed stops ]5, and bent. lugs 14, the hook described. consisting of a shank 6, having arm 7, plate In testimony that I claim the foregoing as D 8, recess 9, lug 12, journals 13, bar 16, chain my own I have hereunto affixed my signature 15 18, rod 20, having drum 19 and provided with in presence of two Witnesses.

Weighted angular ends, cranks 22 and 23 a1; SERENO H. RATHBURN. right angles to each other, and operating-bars \Vitnesses: 24, substantially as described. FRANK P. MAYHUGI-I,

[o 4. A coupling-hook consisting of the shank O. R. BARCLAY. 

